Sheehan, Nine Other Protesters Are Arrested

Network News

Antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan and nine other protesters were arrested in a House office building yesterday outside the room where Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker were testifying before Congress.

Trouble took place throughout the joint hearing of two House committees at the Cannon Building, with the proceedings repeatedly interrupted by shouts from antiwar demonstrators from Code Pink and other groups. Capitol Police said there were other outbursts in a hallway outside the hearing room.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, was among the first to be arrested. She was taken into custody shortly after noon and charged with disorderly conduct, Capitol Police said, because she shouted during the hearing.

Christy Anne Miller, Sheehan's sister, was also charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly shouting in the hallway.

Others arrested included Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, who was charged with unlawful conduct after allegedly shouting during the hearing, and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., of the D.C.-based Hip Hop Caucus, who allegedly refused to move back after jumping in front of a line of people waiting to get inside the room. He was charged with disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer, Capitol Police said.